Page 101 of King

I turn to look back at Damien and he already has his eyes on me. “You ready?”

I nod, sighing, “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

The only thing making me excited about going inside is seeing Willow. She spent the last few days at Bella's but I told her I’d be coming back tonight and to meet me here.

Damien walks with me to the front door, and a minute after ringing the bell, Vincent answers. He eyes us up. “Good. Come.”

“Uh, I’m going to check on Willow.” I attempt to make my way to the stairs but Vincent cuts me off.

“That wasn’t a question,” he says.

“Jesus, give her a second Geeves.” Damien pushes me aside, getting in his face.

While shopping for dresses he took the liberty of buying us a change of outfits. A black hoodie and matching joggers for him, a black maxi dress for me that's easy to get out of.

Vincent smiles, giving a sarcastic, “How adorable.”

“Damien?” A voice comes from the living room. One I recognize. Damien’s brows furrow when he glances back at me. Seems like he recognizes that one too. “Damien is that you?”

“Dad?” Damien takes my hand, leading me into the living room, ignoring Vincent.

When we get into the living room, we find Nancy, Eric and Sebastien sitting around the coffee table. Glasses of wine in front of them.

Damien’s grip tightens, and I look at him in time to see his angular jaw clench. “What are you doing here?”

“Your question is insulting,” Sebastien says standing up, his eyes moving from Damien to me. His suit is full plaid today, white shirt and red tie, “I thought something was going on between you and this girl. When both of you disappeared I knew I was right.”

Damien chuckles. “You’re here to reprimand me for going on a date?” It’s weird hearing Damien consider the last few days as a date, but for us, it's fitting. It still makes the flutters in my stomach go wild and there’s warmth in my heart. “I thought you wanted me to make her feel welcomed. Which I did. Over and over again.” I ignore that part.

"Didn't know you had a thing for orphans," Sebastien smirks, it almost looks like Damien's. My stomach twists. “Turns out, Miss Rowland isn't a fit for the Archibald family. She'll be back in The Grove next week, isn’t that right?” He turns towards Nancy and Eric.

Eric has two fingers on his temple as Nancy stands up. She's in a black dress, moving towards Sebastien. “I’m sorry Jo,” she says, new manicure over her heart. “We put a lot of thought into this and you’re—”

“Not good for business?” I finish her sentence, my hands clammy in Damien's hold. “I guess I wasn’t the right 'ethnic' girl.”

Her head moves back like a turtle and she arches an eyebrow. Eric slams his glass, rising and storming to me. “Listen you little brat,” he grunts. “You know nothing about my business.”

“Don’t I?” I meet his blue eyes. “Or is that Holly? I’m sure she knows all about your wrinkly dink—”

“Jo, I think you should leave!” Nancy yells.

Sebastien crosses his arms, a look of satisfaction growing across his wrinkles.

"With all due respect." Damien takes a step between Eric and me. "That’s not exactly the best scenario for you, Nancy. Or Eric for that matter. Or you, dad.” That menacing voice is back, the one he served me the first day of school.

“What are you talking about? The girl isn't worth it, son,” Sebastien says.

Damien narrows his eyes. “I don’t think you want everyone to know you’ve been dipping your stick into Eric Archibald’s honey."

"Damien," Sebastien's voice sounds like a warning but Damien doesn't hear it.

"That doesn’t seem so bad when Eric has a thing for his assistant. You know…" Damien's head falls to the side. "You all act like the kids are the problem when you’re all just as bad, if not worse. Where the fuck do you think we get it from?”

Nancy’s whole face turns red. She’s like a goddamn lobster. Sebastien won’t take his eyes off Damien and Eric is glaring at me like he wants to hang me from the chandelier.

“Think about what you’re doing Damien.” Sebastien glances at me. “She could ruin everything we’ve tried to build here. All for what? A piece of exotic ass?”

Damien smirks in his dad’s face. “At least this one’s not living a lie.”

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